Marriage of the Hani

In general, most of the Hani enjoyed sexual freedom before the marriage, when the young people knows each other in musical meetings. But each of the ethnic groups hani supports a few customs that differ from others.

In the area of Menghai the young people paints of red the teeth to themselves to indicate that they have reached the adulthood, and they were moving to a nearby small house where he was living with other young people of his age. The girls for his part, were reflecting in his hairdo the different stages of his youth. During all this time they were living out of the paternal house to have more freedom at the time of looking a husband. In Xishuangbanna there existed public houses in which young people of both sexes was happening the night.

The marriages were usually decided by the parents. In some occasions the maternal uncle was preferring at the time of marrying a girl with one of his children. Other times a wives' exchange is realized between different families to avoid the excessive expenses of the talent.

When the children were not agreeing with the couple that they have designated to them, they can realize a secret marriage with the person that they love, fleeing later. They return to a few days presenting the families with the perfect fact. It is called a Marriage by abduction.

If a man had no wealths he could practise the marriage for service, by means of which it was adopted in the family of his wife acquiring the same obligations as a son.

They are monogamous generally, and very rarely the men were taking the second woman.

Although in the family a division of labor was happening, the woman was in inferiority situation. The widows were happening to marry a brother of the husband.

During the wedding it is a custom for that the fiancée weeps abundantly, showing the pain for separating of his parents. Then there is a big holiday. The divorces are rare, and costly. If the woman has no children after several years, the husband can take a concubine. Since between them the familiar continuity is very important, and is realized across the father.

In fact, the name of the son takes the last word of the name of the father. This way genealogy has registered of up to 55 generations.

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